A salon garment including a cape having a sufficient size and shape to substantially cover shoulder, torso and lap portions of a wearer to protect said portions, an adjustable collar; and a viewing window constructed from optically clear material positioned in a location down on the cape corresponding to about the lap of the wearer, such that a communications or other device can be viewed through the garment.

1. A salon garment, comprising: a cape having a sufficient size and shape to substantially cover shoulder, torso and lap portions of a wearer to protect said portions; a collar associated with the cape and having an adjustable fastener to provide tight-fitting engagement of the collar around a neck of the wearer; and a viewing window constructed from generally optically clear material positioned in spaced-apart relation from the collar in a location down on the cape corresponding to about the lap of the wearer, such that a communications or other device can be viewed through the garment.

2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the cape is constructed from a durable, draping, opaque material.

3. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the viewing window is sewn into the cape.

4. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the viewing window has a generally circular shape having a diameter ranging from about 6 to about 24 inches.

5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the viewing window has a generally rectangular shape.

7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the generally optically clear material is flexible.

8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the fastener includes one or more of snaps, buttons, and hook-and-loop fasteners.

9. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a cape for use in a barbershop or salon.

10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is a cellular telephone, laptop or tablet computer.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of barber and salon protective garments, and more particularly, to a protective cape having a clear viewing window provided in a location on the cape about corresponding to the waist of a wearer such that the wearer can view a communications or other device through the cape during a procedure without sacrificing the protection that the cape provides.

2. Background of the Invention

Known to those skilled in the art, capes and other garments are typically worn by a client at a barbershop or salon during a procedure to protect their clothing and skin from falling products and hair. Conventional protective garments, such as barber capes and robes, are typically constructed from lightweight, soil-resistant and washable materials chosen for their comfort, durability and repeated use. Materials having these desired properties are typically knitted from synthetic materials to provide sufficient flexibility in the material to allow it to generally conform to the wearer's shape and allow it to “drape.” While synthetic yarns and other knittable materials may be used to produce opaque or slightly translucent garments, allowing general shapes to be deciphered therethrough, they are typically not capable of producing optically transparent garments, making deciphering text from a communications device therethrough nearly impossible.

Presently, people are in constant communication with one another and work through various wireless devices such as cellular telephones, tablets, laptops, etc. Remote communication through such devices often occurs when multitasking, during periods of downtime, or when waiting for services, making barber shop and salon appointments ideal for catching up on such communications during their relatively long and uninterrupted time periods.

Wearing a conventional opaque or slightly translucent cape, operating a communications device requires the device to be held outside of the protection of the cape or the cape to be moved to view the device, leaving the device and consequentially exposed portions of skin and clothing unprotected and susceptible to falling product and hair. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a barber/salon garment such as a cape having a construction that allows a wearer to view, and thus operate, a device positioned beneath the protection of the garment, also advantageously allowing the arms, hands and clothing to remain under the protection of the garment as well, without sacrificing the intended scope of protection of the garment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a protective garment is provided herein.

In another aspect, the protective garment is a cape for use in a barbershop, salon or other application and includes a tight-fitting neck portion and a shoulder/body-covering portion.

In yet another aspect, the garment includes a viewing window in a position corresponding to about the waist/lap of the wearer to allow a device to be viewed therethrough.

In yet another aspect, the viewing window is constructed from an optically clear material.

In yet another aspect, the garment has desirable draping and protective performance characteristics unaffected by the inclusion of the viewing window.

To achieve the foregoing and other aspects and advantages, a salon garment is provided herein including a cape having a sufficient size and shape to substantially cover shoulder, torso and lap portions of a wearer to protect said portions from falling hair and product, a collar associated with the cape and having an adjustable fastener to provide tight-fitting engagement of the collar around a neck of the wearer, and a viewing window constructed from generally optically clear material positioned in spaced-apart relation from the collar in a location down on the cape corresponding to about the lap of the wearer, such that a communications or other device can be viewed through the garment.

In a further embodiment, the cape is constructed from a durable, draping, opaque material.

In a further embodiment, the viewing window is sewn into the cape.

In a further embodiment, the viewing window has a generally circular shape having a diameter ranging from about 6 to about 24 inches.

In a further embodiment, the viewing window has a generally rectangular shape.

In a further embodiment, the generally optically clear material prevents falling hair and hair products from passing therethrough.

In a further embodiment, the generally optically clear material is flexible.

In a further embodiment, the fastener includes one or more of snaps, buttons, and hook-and-loop fasteners.

In a further embodiment, the garment is used in a barbershop or salon.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the optically clear viewing window in use during a procedure;

FIG. 2 is an isolated view of the protective garment illustrating the viewing window;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view illustrating the sewing of the viewing window into the cape; and

FIG. 4 is an isolated view of the protective garment illustrating an alternative viewing window shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the protective garment according to various embodiments of the present invention are shown generally at reference numeral 10. Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the garment 10 is shown utilized by a wearer during a procedure, such as at a barbershop or salon during a haircut or other treatment, to protect the wearer from falling hair and treatment products. It is envisioned that the garment may be advantageously used in any application where it is desired to protect the skin and clothing of a wearer during a procedure while allowing the wearer to view and operate a communications or other device through the garment without sacrificing the protection that the garment provides. The garment 10 advantageously includes a viewing window 12 positioned on the garment about corresponding to the lap of a wearer such that the wearer can comfortably and easily operate the device through the garment and under the protection of the garment 10.

The garment 10, also referred to herein as a “salon garment” or “barbershop cape” or “cape”, includes a cape 14 having a sufficient size and shape to substantially cover the shoulders, torso and lap portions of the wearer to protect these portions from falling hair and product. The garment 10 further includes a collar 16 associated with the cape 14 and having an adjustable fastener 18 thereon to provide tight-fitting engagement and adjustability of the collar around the neck of the wearer. As stated above, the garment 10 further includes a viewing window 12 constructed from generally optically clear material positioned in spaced-apart relation from the collar 16 in a location down on the cape 14 corresponding to about the lap of the wearer, such that the communications or other device can be viewed through the window 12 of the garment 10.

The garment 10 may have any desired shape such that it drapes over the wearer to substantially cover the shoulders, torso and lap portions of the wearer, preferably when the wearer is in a seated position. The garment 10 is preferably constructed from a durable, draping material such as nylon or other synthetic substrates or natural substrates treated with water repellant materials to provide the desired characteristics of a protective garment known to those skilled in the art. The viewing window 12 portion of the garment 10 is constructed from a generally optically clear and flexible material that preferably allows the window to conform to the underlying shape for comfort. Suitable examples for the window 12 include, but are not limited to, thin flexible plastics that do not allow falling hair and products to pass therethrough.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the garment 10 includes any suitable and conventional fastener 18 for adjusting the diameter of the collar 16 to fit the neck of the wearer. Suitable examples of fasteners include, but are not limited to, buttons, snaps and conventional hook and loop fasteners. Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the window 12 portion of the garment 10 is preferably positioned apart from the collar and is located about the waist or lap of the wearer such that the underlying device can be viewed by the wearer in a seated position and looking down. As shown in FIG. 3, the window has a generally circular or oval shape having a diameter ranging from about 6 to about 24 inches, although it is envisioned that the diameter may vary. A circular window, as opposed to a rectangular window, advantageously eliminates snagging and scratching corners. As shown, the window 12 is sewn into the surrounding cape 14 with exposed edges of the window material either concealed within the seam 20 or positioned on the underside of the garment 10 for both aesthetic and overlapping reasons.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, an alternative geometry of the viewing window 12 is illustrated. As shown, the window 12 has a generally rectangular shape having any dimension sufficient to view adequately view the device through the garment 10. Although generally circular and rectangular viewing window geometries are provided herein, it is envisioned that the viewing window may have alternative geometries chosen for either aesthetic or functional reasons.

While a salon garment having a clear viewing window has been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples, it is envisioned that various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.